New Zealand quake kills at least 65 people
New Zealand city hit by 6.3-magnitude quake
At least 65 people confirmed to have beeen killed
Hundreds feared trapped in collapsed buildings
Centre of city evacuated as aftershocks continue
Read a summary of key events so far
8.39am/9.39pm NZ: This is eerie CCTV footage from the basement of a store hit by the quake.
8.29am/9.29pm NZ: Here are some eyewitness quotes from the Associated Press
Nathanael Boehm, a web designer, said he was standing near a tram track when the quake struck, sending the eaves of buildings cascading onto the street below.
"It was horrific. People were covered in rubble, covered in several tons of concrete," Boehm said, adding that he believed some of them had been crushed to death.
Gary Moore said he and 19 other colleagues were trapped in their twelfth floor office after the stairwell collapsed in the quake. He did not know if people on other floors were trapped.
"We watched the cathedral collapse out our window while we were holding onto the walls," Moore said. "Every aftershock sends us rushing under the desks. It's very unnerving but we can clearly see there are other priorities out the window. There has been a lot of damage and I guess people are attending to that before they come and get us."
8.23am/9.23pm NZ: The Foreign Secretary, William Hague, has expressed his condolences.
"I was shocked and saddened to hear of the devastating earthquake that struck Christchurch earlier today, killing so many people. The ties that bind the UK with New Zealand are very close and my thoughts are with the friends and families of all those who have lost their lives and been affected by the earthquake. Many people in the UK with links to New Zealand will be watching anxiously as the situation develops. Our high commissioner in New Zealand is on her way to Christchurch an! d we sta nd ready to provide any assistance that we can to the authorities and to any British nationals who have been caught up in the earthquake."
8.18am/9.18pm NZ: This is video of scenes just outside Christchurch, where a huge rock crushes a building.
7.44am/8.44pm NZ:
New Zealand's second largest city has been hit by a strong earthquake, measuring 6.3 in magnitude. At least 65 people are dead. This is the second earthquake in five months to hit the region, with a 7.1 magnitude quake in September last year which caused widespread damage but there were no deaths. You can follow live TV coverage here and read our latest news story on what happened when the quake hit.
As night falls in Christchurch this is the situation so far.
65 people are confirmed dead and more deaths are expected as rescuers comb through the rubble in Christchurch's centre after a 6.3-magnitude shock hit the city during lunch hour
Emergency crews are working through the night to reach the 100 to 200 people thought to still be trapped inside collapsed buildings
Tourists were said to have been in the tower of Christchurch Cathedral when it collapsed, and they are feared dead
Power and water supplies have been cut off within most of the city, with an evacuation from the city centre being ordered
Towns outside Christchurch closer to the centre of the earthquake are also said to be devastated
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